A general election will be held on December 12 after MPs voted for a snap poll before Christmas.

It comes after weeks of political deadlock over Brexit and three earlier failures by the Prime Minister to trigger a poll.

KMTV reporting ahead of tonight's vote

MPs backed the Prime Minister's Bill for an early election after a six-hour long debate in the Commons.

They voted in favour by 438 votes to 20 - a majority of 418.

Parliament earlier rejected a motion by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to stage an election on December 9 by 315 votes to 295.

Just hours before the crucial votes, Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark, who was one of 21 rebel MPs suspended after failing to support the government over its Brexit deal, was allowed back into the party.

Tonight's drama followed Labour's decision to back a move to go to the country having previously resisted the idea on the grounds that it would not do so while a no-deal Brexit was still possible.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr Corbyn said: "Whatever date the house decides the election will be, I'm ready for it, we're ready for it.

"Because we want to be able to say to the people of this country there is an alternative to austerity.

"There is an alternative of a government that invests in all parts of the country, a government that's determined to end injustice in our society."

Labour and the Liberal Democrats had also called during the debate for 16-year-olds to be allowed to vote, but this was not selected by the deputy speaker as an amended.

Boris Johnson said an election was the only way forward, telling the Commons: "There is only one way now to move this country forward and that is to have this debate and get Brexit done.

"There is only one way to get Brexit done in the face of this unrelenting parliamentary obstruction.

"That is to refresh this Parliament and give the people a choice."

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